NSW escapee faces fresh charges

A prisoner who escaped from Oberon's minimum security jail in central western NSW is in custody and headed for court.

The 20-year-old was recaptured about 8am on Tuesday, after a manhunt was launched when he missed headcount on Monday afternoon, a Corrective Services spokesman told AAP.

The man was recaptured outside a pub at Taralga, a small village about a 100km south of Oberon, after he was spotted by a prison officer who was driving to work on Tuesday morning.

He was later charged with a range of offences, including escaping custody, and was to appear before Goulburn Local Court on Tuesday.

The man was serving a 20-month sentence for reckless wounding, and his 15-month non-parole was to expire in August next year - but if found guilty on the escape charge alone he risks having another two years added to his sentence.